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"good quality"

"good looking"

classic

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Most worn shoes in my collection.

These shoes are a personal favorite of mine. I have gotten dozens of pairs through the years, but these particular ones are the most worn in my collection and I can see the reason why. I've bought these twice in total, once when I was 15 (black color) and another time when I was 18 (white). My review applies on both of them as they are of the same quality and style. These are the only "expensive" shoes I have bought, since they cost about 45 euros where I live.

My first pair, the black ones, were my first shoes of this style. Everyone seemed to wear them at school, and I was no exception. I wore them every single day, everywhere I went, and loved them. They have this casual style without looking too sporty, and can be paired with more sophisticated clothes.

Durability: I had been wearing my black pair for about 4 years before I threw them away. Imagine wearing pretty much nothing else for 4 years, I had literally grew up in them. They started getting torn on the sides, where the sole was glued on the canvas, but I liked them even more that way since I was in my "punk years". After 4 years of wear, they looked pretty worn out, and I had no choice but to stop wearing them. I still kept them for a long time before deciding to throw them out because I had a sentimental bond with those shoes.

Comfy? Yes. As a person who gets callouses and blisters on my toes very easily, I liked the feeling of these shoes. They were just right, never too tight or too cramped up, yet not loose. I have tried some trainers of this style but none were as comfy as these.

Do they get dirty? Yes, of course depending on how often you wear them. Considering that I wore them every day I often had to swipe them with a wet cloth, but 1-2 times per year I would dump them in the washing machine after removing the laces for a better cleaning. They never got damaged by the washing procedure, and always came out looking brand new.

After my first pair, I bought a white pair of the same shoes, which I still have today and it only looks slightly worn out. It's my to go choice for college days because I never have enough time thinking about what shoes to wear in the mornings. They are comfy and classic and absolutely worth their price.

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Cheap

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"Ubiquitous "

Classy Classic

It's amazing to think that a shoe first conceived in 1917 can be a mainstay for young ones and those young at heart almost a 100 years later. This shoe is the #1 best selling basketball shoes of all time! Yup, Not the Air Jordan 1, not Reebok's Shaqnosis, not Nike's ridiculously popular LeBron collection, not Adidas's KB8. It's amazing isn't it? The Chuck Taylor brand was built by the eponymous basketball player, Charles 'Chuck' H. Taylor. So smitten was he by this shoe that he joined the Converse Rubber Corporation and started promoting the shoe from state to state giving basketball clinics and raving about the advantages of the rubber soled shoe. Chuck was so tireless in spreading the dominance of this sneaker, that even during World War II where he served as a captain in the Air Force, he was a important symbol to the United States war effort. The All Star 'Chuck Taylor' joined the G.I.'s as the shoe of choice during the many excercise sessions thus became the official sneaker of the United States Armed Forces.

Now on to this specific version of the shoe, the All Star Chuck Taylor low top was introduced as a more casual version of the shoe all the way back in 1957. The low tops are one of the few shoes that are hugely popular among the ladies and the gentlemen. You only need to be at a university campus or a school for a little while before seeing one of these trudge by. These Chucks are also a canvas for the creative mind, many teenagers and young adults personalise their shoes by adding studs, pins, badges, painting artwork, sticking stickers and adding various insignia to make their kicks stand out from others. The accommodating design of this canvas version makes it easier to customise when compared to the leather variant of the shoe.

IMPORTANT TIP - Please go to the nearest outlet and try on the shoe before you purchase, as Chucks have it's own sizing standards. It's widely available so please try them on to find the perfect fit!

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A classic that will never go out of style, and a reasonable price for the quality.

"Converse present the plimsoll that needs no introduction." The oxford style Converse trainers are the type I am reviewing, but there are now so many different styles to choose from. The oxford style comes in several different colours, with many retailers offering limited edition colours only available from that retailer. New colours are always being brought out too depending on the season that we are in. For summer, a lot of neon coloured Converse were available, and now that its coming to winter, all the darker winter colours are coming back.

I own the classic white colour, which has the red and blue stripes going around the rubber bottom part of the shoe, below the white coloured canvas, and white laces. The All Star logo appears in white and black at the top of the tongue, as well as on the back of the shoe on the rubber part. The logo on the back starts to rub off and fade after time with it being on rubber, however you can still tell just from looking at them that they are Converse!

These oxford style converse are not only available for ladies, but also for men, children and even babies now. So a long list of sizes is available that I won't need to list here, with them being available in almost every size! I am usually a size 5 and these fit me perfectly so they are true to their size too.

I used to own Converse years ago when I was at college, and only purchased a pair again since then for the first time this year. I have now had mine for almost 5 months and they are still very wearable. I know people who have had the same pair for over two years because they last that long, and even look good when they look 'worn'. Converse even brought out an 'already worn look' range to buy because a lot of people like that style. With mine being white though I don't expect them to last that long, and I won't want them to look too worn. They are still quite clean however, considering how much I wear them, which is at least a few times a week. The canvas material isn't very easy to clean, but the rubber parts are and any dirt on them wipes away very easily with just a wet cloth.

Now for the comfort of these plimsolls. I definitely think they are the most comfiest trainers I own. I purchased some Vans before these and I thought they were comfy, but these are even better. I guess the fact that the bottoms are quite chunky helps, whereas with my Vans I opted for the 'lo pro' style which have thinner bottoms. I will definitely be purchasing another pair in another colour sometime soon.

Converse are available online from many websites as well as from stores such as Schuh, Bank, Foot Asylum, JD Sports and many more and are usually priced at around £45. Other Converse styles' costs will vary. If you want to buy directly from Converse you can even customise your Converse and change a lot of details on them to suit you. You have to pay extra to do this but I do think it is worth it and this always makes a great gift for someone as you would have designed them yourself, and therefore put a lot more thought into them! You can do this both on their website and in store if you are lucky enough to have a Converse shop near you.

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Thanks for Reading :)

== PRICE & PACKAGING==

Converse trainers have become a very popular trainer brand over recent years and as a result pretty much all well known shoe stores will have a section dedicated to showcasing their converse trainers and footwear for sale. Stores include Foot Locker, Schuh, JD Sports all but to name a few. I personally purchased mine from Foot Locker just because it was the first store I went to and the prices are pretty much the same across shoe retailers unless they are on sale.

The range of colours and designs available can be a bit mind blowing; it's a bit like going into a big store full of colourful sweets and not quite sure where to start and which to buy! In the end the converse trainers I opted for were a pair of Converse low tops priced at £42.99.

The pair came enclosed in a cardboard shoe box, which is decorated in a blue colour design with the Converse logo clearly located on the front. The design and appearance of the packaging is very appealing and matches the luxury style of the trainers.

== THE DESIGN ==

I purchased a pair of low top Converse trainers in a dark grey colour which had a funky design of light grey stars scattered around the trainers. They are very sturdy and durable due its white rubber sole which has a grey line that runs through the centre of the side sole. I personally love the design, I wanted something simple but funky and not too colourful and these looked perfect and would easily go with most colours of jeans or trousers. I feel the white thick rubber sole helps give these trainers a great look and make it look fresh and cool and retro all at the same time.

The trainers like most converse trainers come with white laces which is great as it goes well with the colour coding of the trainers matching the sole colour and providing a nice contrast from the grey shades. The laces are like most laces and are easy to fasten and to tighten and go through the small lace holes perfectly.

== CLEANING ==

When these get a bit dirty I usually just wipe it with a very light damp cloth and that usually does the trick, however once or twice I have put them in the washing machine and found that the end result be great as they come out looking fresh and just like new. However I wouldn't do this that often just in case the colour or design starts to fade.

== COMFORTABLE? ==

These are surprisingly very comfortable to wear, I say surprisingly because I originally doubted such trainers that focus so much on appearance to also be comfortable for the feet. I can wear these for hours without my feet starting to ache and cramp up, I was also happy to discover that the skin on my heel and toes don't rub irritatingly against the ends of the trainers, as this was a big issue with many other trainers I use to wear. My feet feel nicely cushioned and protected in these trainers and makes walking in these a breeze.

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Which colour will you choose?

I have always liked the look of Converse shoes but for some reason or other I never got around to getting a pair. Instead I bought cheaper alternatives from shops such as New Look. The only problem with doing this is they have to be replaced every few months or so as I walk a lot and often for miles at a time and because the bottoms are so thin my feet ache really badly. The most recent pair I bought were from Next they cost £18 and in a few weeks the bottoms had split so I decided to take the plunge and get some Converse in the hope they would be harder wearing.

I got my Converse from Amazon where the cost me £40 prices do vary slightly. There are several colours available and Converse are unisex although I can't see a man choosing a pink pair. I chose black so they would go with several outfits. The first thing I notoced when I opened the box was the quality of the soles of these shoes. They are a lot thicker than any of the copies I have bought. I am normally a size 6 and this is what I ordered however I found that they were far too big for me. I had to order a size 5 which fitted me. I am sure everyone is familiar with the design of Converse what pleased me the most was the colour. The black was really dark and not at all faded. The soles of the shoes were bright white with a black line around the middle. The bottom of the shoes is a brown colour and there is a pattern which resembles stars and the brand name written in the centre.

The shoes are very comfortable. I wear mine with and without socks and in the past shoes like this have given me blisters. I pleased to say that after 8 weeks wear I haven't had a single blister. In fact these are so comfortable I wear them frequently. The shoes also have two holdes in the inside of each shoe which allow air to circulate. Thia is brilliant for me as I have smelly feet in these type of shoes normally. I am pleased to say that this hasn't happened with these. In the past when I have bought cheap pairs no amount of Febreeze has helped. The base of these shoes are very hardwearing and despite several miles of walking they still look as good as new.

I love these shoes they go with lots of different outfits and are very comfortable. The only thing I have done is change the laces as mine were white and my jeans kept turning them blue so I bought black laces but I suppose with black trainers you couls have any colour laces to change the look a bit.

I have since gone on to buy a pair of roll down high tops I love these shoes so much. I will be buying more colours as soon as my bank balance allows.

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Great shoes, go buy them!

Converse are the shoes that everyone knows of, most people have a pair, if they don't they most likely have a cheaper, rip off version. This is for a number of reasons..

Firstly, converse are pretty stylish. They come in a number of colours so you can always find a pair to suit your taste. They also go with almost any outfit, especially if you get a pair in black or white! They come in hi-tops and lo-tops, the pair I own currently are lo-tops which is why I have chosen to review these. They are quite simple in design, resembling basketball shoes. They are also comfortable! If I have a busy day ahead or am doing some walking, I always stick on my converse. They are by far the comfiest shoes I own, so I wear them a lot. I'd recommend to anyone looking for comfy shoes! I know how hard these can be to find!!

Converse are available in almost any shoe store, and often some department stores. So you won't struggle to find a pair. They're reasonably priced in most stores, often for around £40, which is good value because the shoes will last a very long time and are worth it for the comfort alone. You may be able to find them cheaper online at ebay or amazon, but I have not checked.

The only problem I have encountered with the converse, is rain. The canvas material doesn't keep your feet dry, so you end up with cold, wet feet and very soggy shoes which can take a while to dry out! The material does mean you can throw them in the washer, I haven't done this personally but many of my friends have recommended doing this to me and say their shoes came out fine!

I would definitely recommend buying a pair of converse to anyone. So comfy, easy to wear and with anything :)

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4 stars

I pretty much live in flats. I live my life at 500 miles an hour, and usually have at least 1 child in tow, so heels (apart from the odd night out) are just completely impractical for me. I mainly wear ballerinas but when the weather is colder or it's raining, I prefer something a bit more covered. I split between wearing Uggs and Converse depending on what I'm wearing.

The all-star low top are a pair that I wear a lot. I do have a few pair of Converse and these aren't my favourite but they do go with a lot of outfits and are comfy to wear. I paid £37 for them in a shoe shop and have worn them to death! They don't ever seem to look old, and I have been known to sling them in the washing machine on a low spin every now and then to make them look like new again. The only part that you can tell whether or not they are new from are the white edging at the back which has All Star written on. This rubs down as you walk so you can't see the bottom of the letters, but I don't have a problem with this, I have worn them so much it is to be expected.

They are comfortable to wear and while I wouldn't want to suggest that they are orthopaedic shoes or podiatrist recommended or anything, they are very supportive! I did have to buy a size bigger than my usual size 5 as when I tried the 5 on my feet were so crammed into them that they were extremely uncomfortable. The sales assistant did say this was normal with the converse and usually people had to buy a size bigger, so I would definitely recommend trying them on in a shoe shop before purchasing them. You can find them cheaper online but I would recommend heading down to a stockist first and trying them on to get the right size. You can always then go away and order online but it will save you the trouble of having to send them back if they are too small.

For the price I don't think you can fault them at all. Trainers aren't really fashionable to wear day to day any more unless you genuinely are doing some kind of physical exercise lol, but these give you the comfort of trainers but you'll look good too. As you aren't meant to fasten the laces, they are as easy to put on as slip ons, while the lace ends are tucked inside the shoe. There isn't really a comparison as such, I guess they are like laced version of Toms but I'm not a massive fan of those, as I think they look slightly weird near the toe!The rubber sole means they are long lasting and will outlast any canvas pumps, etc. I wear them all year round, even when its roasting outside you can get away with wearing them without socks with shorts, a dress etc. I more often than not wear them with jeans though, for a casual day look. The canvas material breathes with your feet, I'm lucky enough not to have stinky feet, but this is something to bear in mind if you do!! They come in a wide range of colours too which I think makes them even more desirable. I opted for a safe grey colour, but you can also buy them in (are you ready?!)

Phew! That's a wide range of colours to choose from, and in each of the colours you also have the option of buying the low tops (ankle height) or high tops (above the ankle). I'm too play it safe for the high top ones and definitely not trendy enough but I do love them nonetheless! In the states you can actually customise your converse and they will take 2 or 3 weeks to be made and sent to you but unfortunately I can't find anywhere that does this in the UK which is a shame as I would most definitely think this would be successful given the popularity of converse over here. You can also buy these in kids sizes too and they are literally just too cute. I have a thing for nice footwear on my girls and they had a pair of the high top ones each in red but they are expensive for little growing feet.

All in all these are comfortable day to day shoes that go with pretty much anything, look trendy, are cheap and are available in so many colours. I love them but not quite as much as the all-star light oxford ones which just seem a little less clunky (the soles are thinner) and a bit more feminine, so because of preference only I'm giving this 4 out of 5 stars.

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I'd recommend these as a really nice little pair of shoes for the summer!

Converse are some of the best looking canvas shoes out there (besides Vans) and the lo-tops are my favourites! I like the idea of the hi-tops, I just personally don't think that they would suit me as much as the smaller ones do. I have quite small feet at size 4, and Converse are a rare type of shoe in that they look as good in the larger sizes as they do in the small. After all, they started off as basketball shoes so it's to be expected.

Both versions of Converse are available in most shoe shops such as Office and Schuh and I've even seen the lo-tops for sale in John Lewis. They're always reasonably well priced and usually cheaper than Vans at around £39.00 or so. Vans always used to be cheaper, but as they've got more popular I'm pretty sure some styles have becomes around £5 dearer, but Converse have always stayed around the same. I'd say that the build quality is definitely a bit better on the Converse with a slightly thicker sole which I find slightly less flexible than Vans, but it's definitely more sturdy. The canvas on the Converse seems different to the Vans as it's tougher and less flexible which can give me pretty serious blisters if I wear them for too long. It means that I'm unable to wear them for walking any good distance, and I can only wear them into town if I'm driving so I don't have to walk very far! Other reviews also advise people not to let the blisters thing put them off and I agree - it's probably because my pair don't fit as well as they could do. As long as you properly try them on in the shop (unlike me) you should be fine.

These shoes really do look good with so many different outfits, they're certainly more versatile than Vans. I usually wear them with jeans or shorts but I've seen a few people wear them with maxi dresses and summer playsuits and they look absolutely fabulous. There are so many different colours you can buy but I'd recommend the black with white sole or the plain white ones. These two colours will be the most wearable and even though they're 'boring' in comparison to the sky blue pink ones, you'll get more wear out of them if they look fabulous with every outfit you have planned!

Another disadvantage of the canvas material is that they're not so brilliant on those rainy days. However, if you don't walk through any puddles or across any muddy fields, you should be okay. My feet have never been absolutely soaking from wearing a pair of canvas shoes in the rain before. On the plus side, if they get a little dirty, you can chuck them in the washing machine (or handwash them) and they come out looking just as good as before. Just don't wash them too hot or the canvas can shrink a little. Once they've been washed they can dry completely in a couple of days or just stuff the insides with newspaper and they perfectly fine!

I'm not going to mark these down because of the blisters, as that would be unfair for such a good pair of shoes.

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Try before you buy!

I love the look of the Converse All Star Chuck Taylor Lo Tops and fancied a pair for ages before finally getting around to buying a pair. I think they look great on all ages. I bought myself a pair of these in white from Office last summer, paying the price of £39.99 for them. A quick google search tells me that these are still the same price in Office but are available from a range of retailers. Prices appear to start around £30.

These shoes come in absolutely loads of colours, and on the Converse website you can even 'design your own'. I went for the white as I wanted something that didn't stand out too much, and that would match most outfits. I wanted these shoes for comfy and casual weekend wear.

I think these shoes look great with jeans, leggings or shorts.

When I first tried on the shoes I was impressed. The laces can be worn in various ways and tightened or loosened as you desire. The sole of the shoes is made of thick rubber and is flexible enough to be comfortable, but still sturdy. The sole of the shoes is quite flat. I found that after wearing the shoes a few times, the sole softened a bit and became even more flexible, which was good.

These shoes wear really well. The sole of the shoes is still nearly in perfect condition even though I have worn them loads. I have thrown these shoes in the washing machine a few times and they have come up nice and white again. They do take a while to dry though, I usually find it requires a day on the line to dry properly.

Now for the negatives... After any length of time wearing these shoes, my feet start to rub and blisters form on my baby toes. This makes the shoes really uncomfortable and I just have to take them off. Initially I thought this was just due to the shoes not being 'worn in' but despite perseverance, I still have the same problem every time I wear these. I have quite narrow feet so don't think it's an issue with my feet being too wide or anything like that.

I do however have friends with the same shoes, and also from reading reviews on DooYoo I am aware that many people find these shoes super comfortable, so don't let my experience put you off. My advice would be that if you are thinking of buying these, go into a shop and make sure you try them on and walk around a little in them first.

So to summarise, these are a cool shoe suitable for people of all ages. They wear well and are a reasonable price. I would not buy them again simply because of the discomfort I experienced, however I do think that this is simply a personal problem and would not apply to everyone, so for this reason I give these 3 stars.

Thanks for reading and I hope you found my review useful!

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Converse are fantastic shoes and these are no exception!

In my workplace I wear lots of high heels and smart outfits and so when it comes to my time off work I like to be able to have time to relax and unwind. I like to wear jeans, sports clothes for the gym and I like to wear trainers, flats and canvas shoes. Converse are shoes that have become fashionable in recent years with the last two years in particular seeing people wearing them as a fashion statement. I have liked converse for about 5 years now since I left my teens and I have several different styles because I love adding variety to my shoe collection and feel that good shoes really finish off a perfect outfit and can add style to anything, even jeans and a plain T-shirt.

These particular 'all star low top' converse are ones that I have had since my birthday in April and they were a gift from my best friend. I'm not entirely sure how much she paid as it would be rude to ask her but these retail for around £30-£40 with bargains occasionally available through Very, Littlewoods and Next (just some of the places I've seen/picked up bargains from).

These converse are made up of canvas and rubber and they are available in a wide variety of shades/colours. I have these ones in both pink and charcoal. The sole and bottom section of these shoes are rubber and there is a nice texture to the front of the rubber that looks cool and draws the eye to the front of the shoe. There is also a shape of rubber on the front of the canvas part of the shoe that is basically a semi-circle that joins on to the bottom of the shoe. I love the little black detailing that separates the canvas and the rubber on the shoe and also appears 2/3 of the way down the rubber sole and runs around the sides and back of the shoe. I love how pretty these shoes look and the little details like the pattern on the rubber makes a huge difference to the look and these details are what make me pick these over cheaper versions that are widely available. The canvas is a lovely light pink and the stitching on the canvas is white so it stands out nicely. The laces provided with these shoes are quite short and once I've laced them up I can just tie these laces up and then tuck them behind the tongue meaning that the laces aren't hanging out ruining the look. I love these laces and it feels like they've been well thought about to go with these shoes and when they're looking a little bit knackered I go out of my way to clean them up rather than just buying standard laces to go in them. The tongue of these shoes is quite thin but it looks cool with the 'All Star' logo that looks quite cool and lets people know that these are the genuine shoes and not some cheap version.

The soles on this shoe are quite thick and they feel sturdy when I am walking on them. I don't worry about twisting my ankle or falling over using these shoes and I also don't worry about uneven wear and so these stay looking good for longer and with regular cleaning and care I can make a pair of these last several years with occasional wear. These shoes feel very comfortable when I am wearing them and I wear a size 8 despite being a size 7.5 normally. I always wear a size 8 in these because they do not have any give in them and it is very unusual for them to stretch, even after a year or two of wear and so I like knowing that I have lots of room even if I want to wear warm socks with these and because they are tight and I get a generous size my toes aren't poking in to the rubber part and becoming uncomfortable and ruining the look of the shoes. While these shoes do not have give and they are a little thin at the front they are a generous width and my wide feet fit in these shoes comfortably without any pain or discomfort.

These are the kind of shoes that will stay in my collection for years. I probably wear mine once or twice a month, sometimes less, sometimes more as with most of my shoes and I love that they offer good value for money. £30-£40 for these is reasonable to me, very reasonable compared to some of the shoes that I have. I love that these are long lasting, comfortable and they look good. The rubber is easy to keep clean with a damp cloth and some sort of cream cleaner. I sometimes soak the laces in bleach if they look like they are in need but often I just soak them gently in some warm water and that does the trick. Generally i like to look after my shoes which is perhaps why they last a long time but sometimes you just have to be brutal and throw some out! I've only thrown out two pairs of Converse in the last 5 years and that should prove just how good their longevity and quality is!

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Great shoe.

I just love my converses - they have to be my most favourite pair of shoes I own and I really must buy some more as they are now starting to look pretty scruffy 6 months in but i do wear them most days, so have definetly got my moneys worth.

I am a size 5 but must have funny shaped feet because in some shoes I am a 6 and in trainers can be a 4 but the size 5 in these fitted perfect, even from day 1 they never felt like they needed to be 'worn in' or broke in with 4 pairs of socks!!!

The sole is a thick white rubber with a black stripe which is the typical look of a converse shoe and the shoe itself is quite simple, pretty plain other than the white curve at the front. To be honest at first I thought the white toe bit looked a bit dopey and it was the one thing that i wasnt keen on but I love ot now, probably because it doesnt stand out as much not being as pristinely white as it was on day one.

I wear the laces tucked into trainer which can sometimes be uncomfortable but these laces are soft and are comfortable under foot which I know they are not intended to be so this is how so many wear them these days so i feel it is important to know.

The shoe is very very comfortable and I have worn literally all day from 730am til after midnight when working and they never leave blisters even when wearing without socks and they do not make my feet smell which is always a Brucey bonus!

You can simply wipe them clean if they get a bit grubby but I have also sent them through the washing machine a few times (on a 40 degree wash - then hung on line to dry) and they have washed well and have kept their shape.

I paid £40 from Office but worth a search on internet as they are sold all over.

may also appear on ciao

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Converse shoes

Converse are a brand of sportswear and in particular shoes and sports shoes. They are notorious for the 'all-star' badge on the tongue of their shoes and the all-star sign on the back of the sole of the shoe. To describe the shoe they have a thick rubber sole which is usually white. The shoe itself is available in many colours and designs I own these in cream and navy blue. The material is canvas like apart from the toe of the shoe which is again white and rubber. Due to the differing textures and colours of the shoes Converse have quickly become a fashion must have aside from being a sporting shoe.

At first the thick rubber sole can be quite restricting when wearing these shoes for the first time but after a few times of wearing the shoe the sole becomes more flexible and therefore more comfortable to wear. The sole is very flat so they can take some getting used to but I find these shoes incredibly comfortable. The back of the sole is canvas material so there is no danger of these shoes rubbing and causing blisters as the backs are very soft and flexible.

It is also worth mentioning that there are lots of different patterned grips on the bottom of the shoe which is perfect for snowy/ice weather.

I find that the shoe is perfect to wear with leggings, jeans and sports trousers and even shorts and some skirts depending on what look you are going for.

To wash the converse I put them inside of a towel or a pillow case and remove the laces and wash them seperately to get the laces up white again. The colour never really comes back true white unless you never get them dirty but the colour of the canvas and the material really stands up to the washing process. To try them I simply put them outside or on the washing line. They take a very long time to dry but this is due to the dense materials.

I paid £33 for my recent converse which was the cream ones from Amazon which is very good value as they are very comfortable and fashionable.

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Very cool canvas shoes

- Why I Bought -A few years ago I was shopping in TKMaxx with my parents when I spotted a pair of red Converse All Star Chuck Taylor Lo-Tops. I had seen people wearing these and the Hi-Tops and always thought they were pretty cool. These just happened to be in the sale for £10 which I knew was a bargain so I bought them, even though my father was convinced I would never wear them!

- The Brand -Amazingly this brand has been around since 1908 when a man named Marquis Mills Converse started selling rubber sneakers. Over the years it has been a brand of shoe favoured by basket ball players and in Rock & Roll.

- The Lo-Tops -I would describe these shoes as a canvas shoe rather than a trainer. They have a fairly thick white rubber sole with some small discrete detail around the edge of the sole and a thin black line around it. The sole of the shoe has grooves so that they have a good grip. The toe of the shoe is also made of rubber which protects your toes. The material of my Lo-Tops is red canvas which I think is very eye catching and somehow makes them look smarter and classier than some of the other designs. I'm not a very casual person so this suits me but there are many designs and colours to choose. I would say some designs are more grungy or young than others but there really is something to suit most people. I have also seen them made of leather or denim. My red pair has some white stitching detail which looks nice but does start to look a bit dirty after a lot of use. They have white laces which are threaded through six sets of eyes at the front of the shoe and then finish off inside the shoe so they can be tied under the tongue and they aren't visible. On the tongue there is a white badge with the All Stars logo. The style of the shoe is slim and fitted to the foot. I think my red pair look a little casual and sporty but with a smart and sophisticated edge, if that makes sense. They don't look like scruffy trainers even though I have been wearing mine for about three years, although not every day (I have way too many shoes for that!).

- In Use -I find my Lo-Tops very comfortable to wear. The sole is a bit flexible so they bend to the shape of your feet a little. I find I can walk for a long time in these shoes without any issues. I have got into wearing them a little more regularly since having my baby as we have done a lot of walking with the buggy. I find them ideal for day time use and usually wear them with skinny jeans or shorts. For the evening I find it is quite easy to smarten up the look by adding a blouse and/or blazer to the outfit. I haven't attempted to do any kind of sport in my shoes because I'm just not that kind of girl!

- Wear and Tear -As I have been wearing these more frequently recently I have noticed that the rubber sole is wearing down a lot and it really doesn't have much grip left at all. I can't complain though as I have had them for three years! I'm not sure you're meant to but I have machine washed them a few times and they come out really well. I put them in the machine on their own to avoid staining anything red!

- Baby Lo-Tops -I love my Lo-Tops so much that I have bought my son a pair in blue. They are still too big for him at the moment but I can't wait for us to wear our All Stars together!

- Price and Availability -The exact pair that I have is £43 on the John Lewis website which is quite pricy but I know it is possible to get them a bit cheaper if you shop around, particularly if you aren't fussy about the design. They are available from Amazon, Office, Debenhams, House of Fraser and many other shoe and sports shops.

- Would I Recommend? -I would definitely recommend these shoes as they are comfortable, fashionable, well made and there is a wide choice of designs and colours. The only negatives are the price and that the sole does wear down a lot.

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A stylish addition to any shoe collection

I'd been hankering after a pair of Converse All-Star shoes for a while and so I was really pleased to receive some birthday money from my Mum with the clear instructions "This is for your Converses only!" I think my Mum is a bit wary of the fact that I tend to be a bit cautious and think about savings before spending! If you've seen Converses in the shops you'll understand my next dilemma. Should I go for high tops or low ankles? Classic sneaker/basketball style or newer skateboarder style? Which colour - black, blue, pink, green, red, mauve, cream .... the list is almost endless! Should I be a bit more adventurous and go for one with a design - stars/strips/spots? I must admit I was utterly baffled and spent an age umming and aahing and it took me a couple of months to make my mind up!

Eventually I decided to go for a burgandy coloured sneaker style low top. They are made of canvas on top with white rubber soles and a white rubber toe cap. They are known as the 'Chuck Taylor' low tops and they are a bit more 'chunky' than the classic Converses in the sense that the sole is a little thicker. At the back of the shoe, imprinted on the white rubber is the Converse All Star logo. On the canvas there is white stitch detail, which in my opinion makes the shoes really stand out and look great! The shoes are lace-ups with metal circles in the lace holes. On one side of the shoe there are also holes which also have metal circles and are designed to help your feet to breathe. I have to say they do work as on the few hot days that we have had my feet haven't got too sweaty.

I think these shoes look great with a pair of skinny jeans or even with normal cut ones. I've worn these regularly for several weeks now and think they're a great pair of casual shoes! I love the colour and really brighten up any outfit that I wear. I did find them a bit hard at the beginning and a little uncomfortable at the top and they did grate against my little toe, but it was just a case of wearing them for a while and breaking into them. I wouldn't say they are as comfortable as my Nike trainers but they do come close. I have worn these for extended periods of time when walking and my feet do not get tired in them. I wouldn't really class these as a sports shoe in that I don't think they offer much support to your feet/ankles so wouldn't recommend these for the gym or any serious exercise.

These shoes are of a really good quality. I've worn them in the rain and got them caked in mud and dirt but they clean really well. I was a bit wary of putting them through the washing machine so I took an old toothbrush and scrubbed them clean with some warm water before letting them air dry. They came out looking great and as good as new!

Overall I love my new(ish) Converses. They look really stylish and brighten up any outfit. They're comfortable too though it take a while for me to 'break' into them. Converses are widely available and the lo tops are priced at around the £42 mark. Highly recommended!

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A comfy pair of shoes suitable for all!

Over the years I have owned several pairs of converse and recently I have become a bigger fan of the low top variety. On average, converse retail at around £40 in the UK which is expensive, however I tend to live in my converse shoes so am willing to pay that for something I use so often.

Converse started out way back when as a brand which sold high top versions of the shoes solely aimed at basketball players. Over time they have become much more of a 'trend' with the public being able to buy them and wear them in the many different style they offer.

Converse have a thick rubber sole and a rubber cap over the toe which gives them their signature look. The rest of the shoe is made of thick fabric and the shoes lace up from just above the toes. Having laces which extend down to near the toe, mean that they can be worn by people with varying foot widths as they can be loosened. I personally find Converse to be very comfortable, although they do take some wearing in when initially bought as they will sometimes rub at my ankles. Knowing this however I generally just wear them around the house with long socks on for a bit until they are broken in. I wear these shoes a lot for work and working with children I find that they are great for being on the go a lot!

Another great plus point of these shoes is that they can be washed in a washing machine, provided you wash them on a cool wash and skip tumble dryers! This means that should they become a bit grubby or even smelly, you can simply wash them and begin again!

These shoes can be worn with a variety of outfits in my opinion as well, so although they are a casual shoe you can pair them with dark jeans and a blazer for a slightly more 'done' look.

I give these five stars as I cannot fault them, they last well and are comfortable and practical footwear which I think look quite 'trendy', although I hate to use that term!